North Ossetian soldier sentenced for going AWOL

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A military court in Nalchik sentenced Tamerlan Totrazov to five years in prison, finding him guilty of unauthorized abandonment of a military unit.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, on September 24, 2022, parts 2.1, 3.1 and 5 of Article 337 on unauthorized abandonment of a unit or place of service during mobilization were introduced into the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The amendments provide for imprisonment for up to 10 years. Tightening of laws after the announcement of mobilization led to harsher sentences for absence from a military unit.

The Nalchik Garrison Military Court sentenced serviceman Totrazov, finding him guilty of committing a crime under Part 5 of Article 337 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The court's press service reported this on August 16 on its page on the social network "VKontakte".

According to the investigation, Totrazov did not show up for service at a military unit stationed in North Ossetia on January 9, 2025. He was absent from the unit until March 28, when he voluntarily came to the military commandant's office in Mozdok.

At the trial, Totrazov fully admitted his guilt. The court sentenced him to five years of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony.

The case file on the court's website indicates that Totrazov's name is Tamerlan, and his interests were represented by lawyers Daniil Balkarov and Artem Muradov.

Recall that on September 21, 2022, Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization. On October 28 of the same year, the Minister of Defense reported to the President on its completion, but no corresponding decree followed. Lawyers have concluded that a presidential decree is not needed to complete partial mobilization, Putin's press secretary explained.